In what has to be considered peculiar timing, K-1 Global released a press release via their website on December 31st during the big NYE events to announce that Masato has resigned as Executive Producer of K-1 Global Holdings. It is a rather brief announcement and Masato says that it is time for him to move on from K-1 and is unclear about what his involvement will be with the world of fighting sports in the future.

It has been speculated that his position with K-1 was simply as that of a figurehead and that he was used to help promote the brand in Japan. With the loss of Masato by K-1 it will be difficult for them to gain any sort of foothold in Japan right now, it would seem.